The three great toads were massive, their sheer size generating powerful gusts of wind as they leaped into the air. When they landed, countless trees were crushed beneath their weight.
"Captain, Jiraiya has spotted us," one of the Root operatives said in a low voice, watching as Jiraiya and the three giant toads charged toward them.
"That ans Kakuzu has already been defeated," another Root ninja remarked, his gaze fixed on the rapidly approaching Jiraiya.
Despite their calm exteriors, the Root operatives were inwardly shocked.
How had Jiraiya managed to find them?
They were stationed far from the battlefield where Jiraiya and Kakuzu had fought. The only reason they could observe the battle at all was due to a specialized scouting tool.
"He's using Sage Mode," their captain, Shimura Hotaru, said. "The sensory abilities granted by that state are incredibly strong."
"Sage Mode?"
Many of the Root operatives had never even heard of it.
Throughout Konoha's history, only Senju Hashirama had ever mastered Sage Mode. No other ninja, in any village, had been recorded achieving it. As a result, Sage Mode wasn't widely known—only the highest-ranking intelligence records in each village contained any ntion of it. Most shinobi had never even heard the term before, let alone understood what it ant.
"In that state, Jiraiya's power far surpasses what he's capable of normally," Hotaru explained. "But it doesn't last indefinitely. The mont it runs out, he'll be left in a severely weakened state."
His brief explanation was enough to give the Root operatives a general understanding of Sage Mode.
Hotaru wasn't just any Root operative—he was one of Danzo's most trusted subordinates, a prodigy of the Shimura clan. Raised with Danzo's vast resources, he had already reached the rank of elite jōnin. Naturally, he had access to classified information that others didn't.
Apart from Hotaru, the squad consisted of another jōnin and several elite chūnin. Danzo had deployed nearly half of his best forces for this mission. That alone made it clear how determined he was to eliminate Jiraiya.
Yet despite knowing how formidable Sage Mode was, the Root operatives felt neither fear nor hesitation. Retreating was never an option.
Danzo's orders were absolute—Jiraiya must die.
Anyone who threatened Danzo's interests had to be eliminated.
Even if Jiraiya had mastered Sage Mode, he had been fighting Kakuzu for a long ti. His training in Mount Myōboku hadn't lasted long, so his ability to maintain Sage Mode had to be limited.
"I'll take on Jiraiya," Hotaru ordered. "The rest of you deal with his summons. Those toads can't stay in the ninja world indefinitely. You don't need to kill them—just stall them until their summoning ti runs out."
As he spoke, swarms of insects crawled out from his arms.
Hotaru had trained in the Abura clan's secret techniques. As a mber of the Shimura clan, he had only been able to learn these techniques due to a deal between Danzo and the Abura. Danzo had offered significant benefits to the clan in exchange for allowing Hotaru to train in their jutsu. Of course, the Abura would never reveal their most guarded secrets.
"Understood, Captain!" the Root operatives responded in unison. They ford hand seals and charged at Jiraiya and the toads without hesitation.
None of them were from civilian backgrounds. Every single one hailed from a powerful clan. Their families had only allowed them to join Root after Danzo offered substantial incentives to their elders. Once they beca Root operatives, they were effectively severed from their clans, reduced to nothing more than Danzo's pawns.
"Die, you little pests!" Gamabunta roared, spewing a barrage of water bullets at the approaching enemies.
Gamaken and Gamahiro, who specialized in taijutsu rather than ninjutsu, swung their massive weapons as they charged forward.
The Root operatives, being elite fighters trained to surpass even the ANBU, withstood the onslaught. Their coordinated defenses blocked the toads' attacks, forcing the battle into a stalemate.
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes at their tactics. "Danzo, you've made a grave mistake."
The techniques these shinobi used were all too familiar. Even though they wore no insignias and bore no signs of affiliation, Jiraiya recognized their jutsu instantly.
So many clan techniques, all in the hands of one group of assassins? There was only one explanation—Root.
The Yamanaka and Akimichi clans were fiercely loyal to the Hokage. They would never attempt to assassinate Jiraiya of their own volition. Yet, among these attackers, he could clearly see mbers of both clans.
That left only one possibility: they were Root operatives.
Only Danzo had the power to command shinobi from different clans to act against their will. Once a shinobi joined Root, they were brainwashed using the Sharingan, turned into emotionless weapons that followed orders without question.
Jiraiya lightly tapped his foot against Gamabunta's head. "You know what to do."
"Got it!" Gamabunta answered. He took a deep breath, his stomach swelling, then exhaled a massive stream of toad oil.
Jiraiya followed up imdiately, weaving hand seals. "Fire Release: Giant Fla Bullet!"
The mont Jiraiya's fire jutsu ignited the oil, a sea of flas erupted forward, engulfing the Root operatives in an inferno.
This was a powerful combination jutsu—Toad Oil Fla Bullet.
In the face of the raging fire, Hotaru and his operatives reacted swiftly. Forming hand seals, they unleashed Wind Release techniques, creating powerful gusts that pushed back the flas just enough to allow them to retreat.
Their combat instincts were razor-sharp, honed through rciless training.
"Danzo really pulled out all the stops this ti," Jiraiya muttered, watching them carefully.
Despite their quick reactions, the sheer intensity of the flas was overwhelming. The searing heat scorched their skin, and their uniforms caught fire. One elite chūnin, unable to react in ti, was completely engulfed—his agonized screams piercing the battlefield.
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Pls Drop so Power Stones
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